Kathy Najimy Turns Off ‘Project Runway’ Fat

It looks like “Project Runway” has lost a fan in Kathy Najimy. The actress sent sent an e-mail to Bravo exec Andy Cohen, a friend of Kathy’s, outlining what particularly upset her.

Kathy took particular issue with Gunn calling one of the runway models “zaftig” (pleasantly plump) and Heidi’s comment that an outfit made a model look plus-size, which Najimy believes implied that plus-size was “the ultimate of horrors.”

In the e-mail Najimy points out how these comments, along with societal pressure to be thin, are particularly harmful to the body images of young girls.

Najimy adds “And I especially hope that Heidi Klum’s beautiful daughter never has to grow up in the self-hatred and self-mutilation that occurs when girls and women are suffocated by irresponsible, dangerous comments like the ones Heidi made…”

While Kathy has a point regarding the issues in today’s culture regarding women’s body image, the outfit that Heidi was commenting on did make the model look heavier than she naturally was. I think we can all pretty much agree that no matter that no matter how much you weigh, unless your Nicole Richie, you don’t want to wear an outfit that makes you look heavier.

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I actually felt bad for the designers because most of the women were so zaftig, it was clear that the thinner women just looked beter in the clothes.

Being as obese as most of those ladies were is unhealthy and is as destructive as being underwieght, a la Nicole Richie.

I was more upset that Allison was let go instead of Vincent when his outfit was nothing more than a stiff tube. If you notice in the credits it says something about the winners being chosen by how well their designs turn out and that the producers are also involved.

They basically kept him on because he was a nutcase, while Allison was “out” because of here chemically balanced brain.

Was it really neccessary to end the article with this?–
“I think we can all pretty much agree that no matter that no matter how much you weigh, unless your Nicole Richie, you don’t want to wear an outfit that makes you look heavier.”

I don’t appreciate that end comment either. When are we all going to change this self hatred that is hurting our youth so desperately? Those women were used on the show for the family appeal factor. It’s not fair to slip the noose around their necks and hang them out to dry for not being thin. As far as health issues go- last time I checked you can be thin and be diabetic or have cancer. Two things are obvious…

The average American woman is 5’4 and weighs 140 pounds, while the average American model is 5’11 and weighs 117. The expectation that every woman should aspire to look like a walking clothes hanger, and that anyone, regardless of their genetic predispositions, should be able to achieve this look if they just try “hard enough” is becoming tiresome.

As far as Heidi Klum’s comments, consider the source. After all, the woman is not famous because of her sparkling intellect.

Being overweight carries many health risks and I’m so tired of hearing that the “average woman” is 5’4″ and weighs 140. The “average woman” also consumes McDonalds at least two times a week and eats portions that are way too large for a well balanced diet and when the “average woman” answers that exercise question on the form at the doctor’s office the check mark goes in the “rarely to never” box about 98% of the time.

You can make excuses all you want, but the fact of the matter is, being overweight may put you in the “average” category, but “average” doesn’t always mean it’s the best place to be. Making these BS excuses will only send you to an early grave…and no, I don’t think a model is normal either…there is a happy medium.

5’4 and 140 isn’t overweight. Check with your doctor and find out. Check out this chart as well (http://www.annecollins.com/dieting/height-weight-table.htm) That height and weight is perfectly normal. Now, being 5’4 and 160 or more is overweight. Also, of course it is not healthy to be sedentary and eat a ton of junk food. Then again, I never said it was, so you simply made an assumption that I was approving that sort of behavior when, in fact, I made no mention of it whatsoever. Many women are 5’4, 140, in excellent health and exercise regularly. You make no allowance for differences in build and musculature. Consider the height and weight of most female Olympic athletes.

You are simply proving how skewed most people’s perceptions are about what “overweight” really means. Marilyn Monroe was 5’5 and weighed 130, she was certainly not overweight, but measured against your standards, God help her.

And thank you for your concern about my “excuses taking me to an early grave.” Considering I’m 5’9 and 1/2 and weigh 130, work out regularly and am in excellent health, I think I’m doing alright. So, there goes another one of your obvious pet theories – that anyone who defends women against society’s unrealistic body type expectations must be overweight themselves.

I don’t think there was anything wrong with the end comment. Its the truth and it has little to do with what’s sending girls to puke their lunches. I also don’t think Heidi hates fat people. Its funny how people can watch a whole program and take things so out of context.

Hmmm diavolobella, no need to get defensive. Never once did I name you specifically nor was I referring to you. Pretty selfish of you to assume my comment was specifically for you.

I was speaking in general terms here. And yes, you are right, I didn’t clarify as well as I should have. Next time I’ll be sure to research the entire matter and take up about 10MB of storage space on the site to explain myself more fully.

Besides that, I’m 5’2″, weigh 99lbs and eat nothing but candy and soda all day and I NEVER exercise, but you better believe that when my metabolism slows and I gain 50 pounds you aren’t going to hear me whining that Tim Gunn called a model zaftig. In fact, when my butt weighed in at 125 I pushed myself to eat healthy and work out at least three times a week until I was back down to a weight that satisfied me. Models are supposed to be skinny! Who really wants to look at Vogue with a bunch of overweight models……I don’t. I know that’s brutally honest, but I find that people just aren’t honest enough anymore. It’s all about being PC and tiptoeing around so we don’t hurt anyone’s feelings. Welcome to reality, life isn’t all flowers and sunshine.

I’d also like to add that Kathy Najimy is nowhere near 140, nor does she have the build of someone who regularly attends the gym. When she drops down to a healthy weight, then and only then will I care what she has to say about how society’s perception of “average” is skewed.

Selfish? That’s laughable. Small Fry, you directly quoted me, (“I’m so tired of hearing that the “average woman” is 5’4″ and weighs 140″), and that made it pretty obvious your comments were directed right at me. Nice attempt to CYA though.

when you rent a car, you will not accept one with damages. so when I date a woman, i won’t pay for
one who doesnt care about her appearance and, more
importantly, her HEalth. even in this era of
“equality,” a woman never even offers to pay for herself. this is her idea of “equal rights.” But
if a man expects something (even a good night kiss,
for heaven’s sake), the woman is resentful.